Kylie Thompson ‘26 swam her first Age Group State medley relay at age 10. Five years later, she swam that same event at her freshman year IHSA State Championship, helping her relay, which was made entirely of underclassmen, to a 12th-place finish. 

“[My favorite part about swimming is] the hard work that goes into it,” Thompson said. “I can see results even if they’re not immediate. At the end of the season, you can tell what work you put in, [and] that anticipation of what you’re going to go [is so much fun].” 

Thompson started swimming at age 6 at Lyons Aquatics. Now, she competes for LT and FMC Aquatics. She specializes in freestyle and backstroke, often competing for LT in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle, as well as the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays. 

“I’ve always been good about being self-motivated, and keeping my eyes on the goal[and] eyes on the prize,” Thompson said. 

This summer, Thompson shaved 27 seconds off of her 800 freestyle time, placing third at the Futures Championships. Following that successful season, she committed to Bowling Green State University, where she will join former LT and FMC teammate Lauren Jablonski ‘25. 

“[Sophomore season] was a frustrating season because we knew how great and talented [Thompson] was, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t clicking,” FMC National Team Head Coach Dave Krotiak said. “[Junior year] she definitely picked up, and then this calendar year it definitely started happening for her.”

Last year, Thompson finished 19th at IHSA State in the 500 with a time of 5:06.19. This season, she is currently ranked fourth in the state in the 500 with a time of 5:03.46, surpassing her best time by three seconds and setting a meet record at Hinsdale Central’s KP Invitational. 

“Throughout the state, [she] just kind of shocked everybody [with] the improvement that she made over the course of nine months,” Varsity Head Coach Brendan Weibel said. “From junior to senior year, [she went] from a solid player to somebody who is very elite and competitive at the highest of levels. I think that gives a lot of people motivation to try to match that.”

This year, Thompson serves as a captain alongside teammates Maeve Collins ‘26, Anna Pansing ‘26, and Bebe Wright ‘26.

“I hope I’m not intimidating or mean and scary but definitely just positive and motivational,” Thompson said. “[I say things] like guys, one more, we’re doing this. It’ll all pay off in the end and [I hope I] bring little bits of energy [to the team].”

Girls Swim and Dive finished ninth in 2022, fourth in 2023, and fifth in 2024 at the IHSA State Championships. This year, the girls want to finish as high as they can, Thompson said. 

“Kylie is one of those people that, no matter how hard or what the scenario is, she’ll always be a shining light at the end of the tunnel to tell you, Hey, you’re going to get through it, don’t worry, it’s all going to be OK,” teammate Dylan Jorgensen ‘26 said.

Jorgensen has swum with Thompson since they were both 6 years old, and was a part of the underclassmen medley relay in 2022. As seniors, they are leading the charge to success at State, accompanied by younger teammates like Thompson’s sister, Abby Thompson ‘28. 

“[Thompson] is probably more important than what she ever knows,” Krotiak said. “Being the oldest [in a family], you’re not only setting an example for yourself and your character, but [the] siblings that come underneath you growing in the sport, you’re influencing the most important people besides your teammates, and that’s your younger siblings.”